A group in North Carolina has
joined an effort to create a 150-mile
paddle trail running the length of the
Waccamaw River.
Plans are now going forward to
fund the northern section of the trail to
help promote the river and educate
people about its resources and history.
Christine Ellis, who’s job it is to
protect and promote the river, is
leading the effort for the paddle trail,
called the Waccamaw Blue Trail.
When complete it will run from
Lake Waccamaw in North Carolina to
Winyah Bay in Georgetown.
Ellis, the Waccamaw River Keeper,
said the paddle trail will be marked
with signs and it will be promoted
throughout the state and country.
Places where paddlers can enter
the river will be improved and added.
About 100 miles of the paddle trail
will be in South Carolina. That
portion is mostly funded, but Ellis said
contributions are appreciated.
Ellis said some people have
expressed concerns that the trail may
limit hunting and fishing in the river,
but that is not the case.
“We want to promote recreation
on the river and educate people about
its natural, historical and cultural
resources,” she said.
“We want more people to use the
river, not less, and hunting and fishing
are part of our culture, so we would
like to include that in our uses.”
Ellis is partnering with American
Rivers and the Pee Dee Land Trust to
complete the South Carolina portion.
The Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley
Foundation is funding most of the
three-year South Carolina project
launched in 2009, Ellis said. But the North Carolina section
is still in the planning
phase and in need of funding.
Jennifer Holcomb, director of
tourism for Columbus County, NC,
said the northern 50 miles of the trail
would mirror some of the initiatives
of the southern portion.
“The next step is planning, sitting
down with maps and criteria for
amenities along the river,” Holcomb
said. “Those amenities will some day
include stores and outfitters to support
paddlers, and places to buy lunch and
supplies.”
She said organizers of the trail
welcome public input and have held
three public meetings seeking ideas.
“The Waccamaw River is
gorgeous,” Holcomb said. “It is a very
unique body of water that is attractive
to paddlers.”
“I think... it will be great to have
an opportunity to get in at Lake
Waccamaw and paddle all the way
down to Winyah Bay,” Ellis said.
For more information about the
trail, or to make a donation, call
Holcomb at 910-540-2818, or Ellis at
843-349-4007.
Source: The Georgetown Times
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